Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider a proposal (details supplied) on guidance counselling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40642/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Until now, a specific resource was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. In future, schools must meet their guidance requirements from within the overall resource provided by that normal staffing schedule. Individually schools can continue to make provision for guidance and counselling. Decisions on how this will be done will be taken at school level in the best interests of students and to ensure the best use of resources available. I am confident school management and teachers will continue to work together to meet the needs of the students in their care.

In this way, the main teacher allocation can be maintained at 19:1 for schools generally, while schools will have discretion to balance what they allocate for guidance against the competing demands of providing subject choice. The change that has been announced gives schools greater autonomy in how they allocate staff resources to best meet the needs of their students. My Department will be notifying schools of the impact of the budget changes in January, 2012.